Baltimore Ravens: Early 55-man roster predictions after the 2020 draft

Predicting the Baltimore Ravens 55-man roster with early free agency and the NFL Draft behind us.

Last season, the Baltimore Ravens battled to a 14-2 record but came up short in the playoffs. Still hungry for a Super Bowl title, Baltimore went into the offseason and somehow found ways to build up their already talented roster. Several veteran acquisitions, one of the best draft classes in the league, and an easy strength of schedule put Baltimore as the frontrunners to claim the first seed in the AFC again.

Under the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), NFL teams can dress 48 active players on gameday instead of 46. The CBA also allows two practice squad players to be elevated to the team’s active roster per week, increasing the standard roster size from 53 players to 55. For a full breakdown of the new CBA’s rules, check out Dan Graziano‘s article on ESPN.

However, all of Baltimore’s new additions mean several veterans could find themselves squeezed off of the roster. Perhaps the new roster rules could save older players if some developmental talents bounce between the active roster and practice squad, but the Ravens still have to shave their roster down a little for the 2020 season.

Quarterbacks (3): Robert Griffin III, Lamar Jackson, Trace McSorley

The only debate here is whether or not the Ravens will keep three quarterbacks. While Lamar Jackson did a decent job avoiding taking unnecessarily brutal hits in 2019, he did get thumped a few times. If the Ravens have learned anything from Robert Griffin III’s experiences, they’ll protect their young MVP while also maintaining quarterback depth in case of disaster.

I don’t think anyone expects Jackson will suffer a severe injury in 2019, mainly because he actively works to avoid taking the unnecessary hits that ended Griffin’s prime early. However, Jackson does take off with the ball a lot. Griffin set his career-high for rushing attempts at 120 as a rookie. Last year, Jackson carried the ball 176 times.

However, Jackson is a special player and a unique athlete who should be a dominant force in the coming decade. Baltimore employs a solid backup option if he did miss some time with an injury. Griffin saw significant starting time with the Washington Redskins early in his career. The former No. 2 overall pick even made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Griffin appeared in ten games for the Ravens over the past two seasons. He is 1-0 as a starter in Baltimore.

Entering the 2019 NFL Draft, some teams asked Penn State’s Trace McSorley to work out as a defensive back. Teams doubted whether the young quarterback’s height and arm strength could translate to the NFL, but the Ravens scooped him up in the sixth-round. At this point, the Ravens are used to cultivating unconventional quarterbacks. McSorley should make the final roster as a developmental player and deep security blanket if injuries decimate the quarterback room.